Ovarian cancer. Geographical, host and environmental factors. An overview.

The incidence of ovarian cancer is reviewed among different races and ethnic groups. We present the effect of socio-economic class, age, endocrinological factors, menstrual cycle, reproductive history, familial, and genetic factors, viral infections, chemical carcinogens, and previous exposure to radiation on the incidence of ovarian cancer. There is evidence that environmental factor affects the distribution of various types of ovarian cancer. Migration may also change the susceptibility to this disease and the mean age was varied between countries being lowest where incidence was highest. The disease appeared to have a familial incidence. The protective effect of oral contraceptive steroids and the role of asbestos as a chemical carcinogen are discussed.